Lithuania - Environment

Short-term priorities:

• continued transposition of framework legislation;
• establishment of detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to individual acts;
• planning and initial implementation of these programmes and strategies.

Assessment (October 1999)

These priorities have been met.

Lithuania has made further progress in this area, continuing to align its legislation on the community acquis. It has also worked to ensure its enforcement.

Assessment (November 2000)

The directive on environment impact assessment has been transposed and is starting to be implemented. The transposition of the framework legislation has continued concerning air, water, waste and radiation protection. Efforts have been recorded in the devising of plans to finance investment. Administrative capacity has been stepped up.

Assessment (November 2001)

Good progress has been made in the transposition of the framework legislation in the fields of air, water, waste, radiation protection and nature protection. The directive on environmental impact assessment has also been transposed. Plans to finance investment for certain sectors have been drawn up. Lithuania has strengthened its administrative capacities at central and local level.

Assessment (October 2002)

Regarding transposition of the acquis, secondary legislation still needs to be adopted in relation to chemicals, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), industrial pollution, waste, noise and nature protection. Implementation of the acquis has continued, but further steps still need to be taken regarding waste, industrial pollution, nature protection, chemicals and GMOs.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities:

• putting in place of monitoring and implementation control structures and capacities;
• on-going planning and implementation of approximation programmes related to individual legal acts;
• particular emphasis on drinking water quality, waste and nuclear safety.

Assessment (October 1999)

No significant progress has been recorded in these areas.

Assessment (November 2000)

There has been no progress in this area.

Assessment (November 2001)

Institutional capacities need to be rationalised because of the large number of institutions involved in implementing environmental legislation. Approximation has continued, particularly in the air, waste, GMO and native conservation sectors. Lithuania has begun to apply an action programme for sustainable development.

Assessment (October 2002)

Administrative and monitoring capacity has been stepped up. However, further efforts are required in relation to chemicals and GMOs. Investment programmes have continued in the water sector, and preparations have continued for establishing regional waste management plans. Preliminary areas of special protection and conservation have been selected. Particular attention needs to be paid to integrating the environment into the other sectoral policies.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Decision 98/265/EC of 30.03.1998Official Journal L 121 of 23.04.1998

Decision 1999/856/EC of 06.12.1999Official Journal L 335 of 28.12.1999

Commission opinion COM(97) 2007 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(98) 706 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999) 507 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2000) 707 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2001) 700 final - SEC (2001) 1750Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2002) 700 final - SEC (2002) 1406Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1204Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004